No quarterbacks in the draft

[Urrymonster]

There is a very good chance there will be a lockout this year meaning no free agency before the draft. So who wants to gamble that Volek or some other free agent comes here when the FA period resumes after the lockout ends. If that is August do we bring in a veteran who hasn't been here at all and put him as the starter or go with Clausen in a new system hoping he is better.

Or do we draft a guy- ask him to sign Testeverde as his private coach to work with him during the offseason to work on what he needs to do until the season starts.

I think the way the cards have fallen you have to go with Clausen as the starter. Pick up a rookie and it looks like they all need to sit for a bit at least. Wait for a vet and the chances are we can't get in anyone worth giving a jersey to.

Frankly unless someone likes Orton is available for next to nothing then Clausen is looking to be starter regardless. Unless he has complete fail in practice, whenever that ends up being.

[blackcatgrowl]

For a one year timeframe, I'll take a guy I know is a stopgap over a guy I hope and pray is a franchise QB (despite indications to the contrary) ten times out of ten.

So you want to play it safe.

In football playing it safe means mediocrity. If you aren't willing to go out there and make some risky moves, you'll never achieve success.

Like an on-side kick to start the 2nd half of the Super Bowl. Who does that? Crazy move everyone said. Well, Sean Payton did it, and they went on to win the game.

You either take a chance on talent, or you never improve. That's not what I want for the Panthers.

[TheRealDeal]

Tell me the last time someone reached for a project at QB with the first overall pick and it led their team to greatness.

[unicar15]

Step 1: Move down - We don't need Fairly or Bowers...especially at #1.

Step 2: Draft BPA - Maybe we can pick up an extra 1st next year or a 2nd and 3rd this year to go along with the BPA. If we had that scenario I wouldn't be mad if it was Patrick Peterson, AJ Green, Blaine Gabbert, or Marcel Dareus. BUT...Right now the only player that could be worth the #1 selection in someone's eyes is DaQuan Bowers. We happen to be stockpiled with young defensive ends so use the fact that a team like the Bengals covets Bowers to move down.

[mountainpantherfan]

A couple of points I'd like to add to a very articulate OP Mr. Scot.

-While I like Voleck for a backup with Clausen starting, I like the idea of a guy like Bulger who could have a revival as a starter and that would allow Clausen time to learn on the bench. Orton is the ideal guy but the asking price is too high at this point. A couple other names that I think could end up out there on the open market is Charlie Batch, Jason Campbell, Drew Staton, Trent Edwards, Tarvaris Jackson, Kyle Boller and Rex Grossman. Not to forget Matt Hasselback. None of the above mentioned are going to be your franshise QB and may not even be here for more than two years. But with a lot of them, they could be the starter while Clausen or Pike develop.

-Yes I said let Pike develop. The guy is injury prone, which worries me, and he has little experience in a pro offense or against pro style defenses. But there is something about him that I really like and think that he could turn into something special given time. At 6'6", 223 lbs, Pike has the physical stature that Clausen and Moore lack. He has a strong arm and has good accuracy within the pocket. Good mobility but not great. Most of all really great decission maker and smart. Maybe it's where he was drafted, maybe a little of his skill set and size, but the kid really reminds me a lot of Brady coming out of college. The think that made Brady who he is wasn't he skill set though, it was his work ethic and basicly a "chip on the shoulder" additude that made him into a driven person on and off the field. Does Pike have that?

[Urrymonster]

So you want to play it safe.

In football playing it safe means mediocrity. If you aren't willing to go out there and make some risky moves, you'll never achieve success.

Like an on-side kick to start the 2nd half of the Super Bowl. Who does that? Crazy move everyone said. Well, Sean Payton did it, and they went on to win the game.

You either take a chance on talent, or you never improve. That's not what I want for the Panthers.

You take educated or calculated risks, not huge leaps of faith.

If you constantly live by the roll of a dice you will end up getting burned, horridly. Play the numbers game and you will consistently put yourself in the best chance to succeed.

[blackcatgrowl]

Tell me the last time someone reached for a project at QB with the first overall pick and it led their team to greatness.

Hindsight is 20/20.

No one will say, "Oh, this guy was a project and became a super star.", because whomever drafted that person is going to say "Oh, we knew he had a chance at championship level talent."

Peyton Manning didn't come out of the Draft to go win the Super Bowl that year.

On the flip side, there's a whole lot of evidence to say that people who are NOT considered projects weren't worthy of that consideration.

Matt Leinart anyone?

Is Cam Newton the next Peyton Manning? No. I don't believe so. I think he's the first Cam Newton. He'll bring something new and exciting to whomever picks him up.

[blackcatgrowl]

You take educated or calculated risks, not huge leaps of faith.

If you constantly live by the roll of a dice you will end up getting burned, horridly. Play the numbers game and you will consistently put yourself in the best chance to succeed.

And you haters who are saying he's a huge leap of faith have nothing... zero... to back that claim up, besides a bunch of reporters who have it in for the kid.

Again... if someone can show me an entire Auburn game where he throws off his front foot... or show me a whole game where he doesn't make a single 2nd read... or show me a whole game where he is throwing balls into the stands or over receivers heads... I'll stop making Cam Newton posts and change my sig.

[Urrymonster]

Hindsight is 20/20.

No one will say, "Oh, this guy was a project and became a super star.", because whomever drafted that person is going to say "Oh, we knew he had a chance at championship level talent."

Peyton Manning didn't come out of the Draft to go win the Super Bowl that year.

On the flip side, there's a whole lot of evidence to say that people who are NOT considered projects weren't worthy of that consideration.

Matt Leinart anyone?

Is Cam Newton the next Peyton Manning? No. I don't believe so. I think he's the first Cam Newton. He'll bring something new and exciting to whomever picks him up.

Ok, name one project QB that turned out ok. I am talking about players that had to learn the pro system and came from solely the spread offense.

[TheRealDeal]

Hindsight is 20/20.

No one will say, "Oh, this guy was a project and became a super star.", because whomever drafted that person is going to say "Oh, we knew he had a chance at championship level talent."

Peyton Manning didn't come out of the Draft to go win the Super Bowl that year.

On the flip side, there's a whole lot of evidence to say that people who are NOT considered projects weren't worthy of that consideration.

Matt Leinart anyone?

Is Cam Newton the next Peyton Manning? No. I don't believe so. I think he's the first Cam Newton. He'll bring something new and exciting to whomever picks him up.

You just John Fox'd my question....The simple answer is No, that's never happened because NFL teams aren't that stupid.

[Urrymonster]

And you haters who are saying he's a huge leap of faith have nothing... zero... to back that claim up, besides a bunch of reporters who have it in for the kid.

Again... if someone can show me an entire Auburn game where he throws off his front foot... or show me a whole game where he doesn't make a single 2nd read... or show me a whole game where he is throwing balls into the stands or over receivers heads... I'll stop making Cam Newton posts and change my sig.

First off, grow up and drop the 'haters' thing. I am talking about the QB class as a whole, they all have question marks about them. As you brought him up, if Newton wows the scouts at his pro day and combine whilst interviewing well, then he has a great chance of being picked #1 (although he would still be to prove he can read anything beyond a simple defense).

You are getting incredibly defensive about him and your whole argument can easily be flipped on it's head by asking you to provide evidence of him going to his second read.

TheRealDeal posted a video not long ago where people convinced themselves he had gone to his third read, as they were seeing what they want to see. He didn't, in fact he only ever looked at one receiver which was the TE.

I personally feel his footwork is pretty sloppy. He's not light on his toes and has fairly slow leg and body adjustments, which will not hold up when he is under pressure.

He has a great arm, he is moderately accurate, but he never had to fit the ball in small spaces. The vast majority of the time he didn't have deep safeties to contend with, so I would expect a QB to do well if he is moderately accurate if the whole defence is attempting to stop him running.

[blackcatgrowl]

You just John Fox'd my question....The simple answer is No, that's never happened because NFL teams aren't that stupid.

You can't ask the question "Name one project at QB with the first overall pick and that led their team to greatness.", because there is always one fuger who said "He could be a great player in the NFL!". It's rhetorical at best, because the answer

And he is a project in the same way that EVERY draft prospect is a "project" (including Luck). But does he have the TALENT to play in the NFL? The answer is an unquestionable "yes".

Do we need a QB? Well, based on having the dead last in QB play last year, the question is an unquestionable "yes".

Stopgap QBs get you no where. They just give you enough wins to be irrelevant, and push you out of the top draft picks.

The way I see it, we either take a chance on Newton, or we will languish for years as the ass-end of the NFC South.

[blackcatgrowl]

First off, grow up and drop the 'haters' thing. I am talking about the QB class as a whole, they all have question marks about them. As you brought him up, if Newton wows the scouts at his pro day and combine whilst interviewing well, then he has a great chance of being picked #1 (although he would still be to prove he can read anything beyond a simple defense).

You are getting incredibly defensive about him and your whole argument can easily be flipped on it's head by asking you to provide evidence of him going to his second read.

TheRealDeal posted a video not long ago where people convinced themselves he had gone to his third read, as they were seeing what they want to see. He didn't, in fact he only ever looked at one receiver which was the TE.

I personally feel his footwork is pretty sloppy. He's not light on his toes and has fairly slow leg and body adjustments, which will not hold up when he is under pressure.

He has a great arm, he is moderately accurate, but he never had to fit the ball in small spaces. The vast majority of the time he didn't have deep safeties to contend with, so I would expect a QB to do well if he is moderately accurate if the whole defence is attempting to stop him running.

You're telling me to grow up, when all I see in this entire thread is a regurgitated mewlings of a couple media writers who don't like Cam.

Hilarious when ESPN's sport-science did a review on Cam the week before he won the BCS highlighting everything that is the reverse of what you're saying.

And you must not realize, that video was posted by TRD in response to how I called him reading the play. About half the people responding saw it how I did. He made at least 2 reads. No one here knows the play as called, so it's all conjecture based on what we perceive, and a pointless debate.

Again... give me a WHOLE game of him not making reads and you might have a point. You won't find it though. Because you aren't going to go undefeated in the SEC, win the BCS, if you don't know how to make reads.

[Wanderlai]

If we are at the ass end of the NFC South then we will have high picks again and there will be other players to take. Say they take Newton and the Panthers suck again and end up with the 1st pick next year and Luck comes out...do you spend the 1st pick again on a QB?